Plastic Salt Container for Bloody Mary Mixes

ABSTRACT

A plastic salt container ( 1 ) is provided comprising a top lid ( 2 ) having outside threads ( 4 ) and inside threads of the top lid ( 2 ) which threadedly engage the base of the container ( 3 ) and more specifically, respectively engage outside threads ( 6 ) and inside threads ( 7 ) of the container base ( 3 ). The salt container ( 1 ) is fastened together by the internal threading of the top, outside thread ( 4 ) interlocking with the base&#39;s outside threads ( 6 ) and also the top lid inside threads ( 5 ) interlocking with the base&#39;s inside threads ( 7 ). The container ( 1 ) is mountable in combination with a bottle or container of drink mix.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/402,294, filed on Sep. 30, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a plastic container, which houses salt or other drink garnishes, and is provided for use and in combination with various drink mixes or mixers such as prepared Bloody Mary and Margarita mixes, wherein the garnish container is removably mountable to the mixer container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In preparing various types of mixed drinks, a drink is prepared in a glass with various combinations of alcohol and mixers. For some such mixed drinks, it is common to apply salt to the rim of the glass as a garnish or drink enhancement. In other words, it is desirable to rim the glass with salt. Not all mixed drinks use salt in this manner and therefore, the bottles of the mixers used to prepare such mixed drinks are typically stored in one location, and it may be necessary to separately store and locate the garnishes such as salt in a different location, wherein both the mixer bottle and garnish need to be brought together and then the preparer can then rim the glass with salt before pouring the mixer and other drink ingredients into the glass.

Currently in order to rim a glass with salt, you would buy and store the salt separately from the bottle of mixer such as Bloody Mary mix or the like. This is an added cost for the consumer. To apply the salt, the drink preparer, which may be a consumer of the drink or a bartender making a mixed drink for the consumer, would then need to put the salt in another container or on a plate to apply the salt on the rim of the glass. In this process, the salt is poured into the salt container or on a plate and the glass is tipped and pressed into the salt, which then sticks to the glass rim. After which, the mixed drink including the mixer, ice and alcohol or other ingredients are placed into the glass. This adds to the time preparing the drink, and also dictates that the preparer would have to store and clean up the salt mixture which often can spill.

The present invention relates to a dedicated plastic container for housing drink garnishes such as salt, together with the bottles of drink mixers, such as Bloody Mary and Margarita mixes. For purposes of the present invention, the garnish preferably is salt, but in view of the variety of drinks and creativity associated with drink mixology, the garnish may be other types of particulated or dry drink enhancements that might be stored in the inventive container. The container preferably is dedicated to the storage of salt or other garnishes used in making a drink, wherein the container is stored directly on the bottle of mixer and may be sold in combination therewith if desired.

This invention allows the consumer to locate the drink mix and garnish container which are stored together, pull the container off of the bottle of the drink mix, apply a salt rim to their glass, and add the other ingredients including the drink mix. The garnish container can be remounted to the mixer bottle and stored in combination therewith for subsequent use. Based upon information and belief, in the beverage industry this garnish container has never been made, and there is not believed to be a product like this in the market place. This invention would serve as a significant improvement to the beverage industry. As examples of benefits resulting from the present invention, this inventive container would be important in the beverage industry due to the speed, price, and convenience it adds to the mixer market. This invention will improve the beverage industry by being the first to have a container that includes salt and a vessel to apply the salt to the rim of a glass. This adds convenience, speed, ease, and a lower cost to the consumer. As such, this container serves as the first two-in-one mixer in the beverage industry which serves as a storage container and vessel matable with glassware for the application of the salt to the rim thereof.

Other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a garnish container on a bottle, embodying the principals of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the container taken from above;

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the container taken from below;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the container;

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the container;

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the bottom base taken from above;

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the bottom base taken from below;

FIG. 3C is a side cross-sectional view of the container;

FIG. 3D is a bottom view of the container with hidden lines;

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the top lid taken from below;

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic, isometric view of the top lid taken from above;

FIG. 4C is a side cross-sectional view of the top lid; and

FIG. 4D is a top view of the top lid with hidden lines.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the arrangement and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is referenced in an intended application in FIG. 1, wherein the invention comprises a hollow garnish container 1 that is mountable on a bottle 20 of any available drink mix or mixer. While referenced as a bottle 20, this mix container 20 may be any type of suitable beverage container in which the drink mix may be sold. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottle 20 includes a narrower neck 21 with an opening at the top, and a wider body 22, which stores the majority of the drink mix. Preferably, the drink mix is a liquid. The garnish container 1 preferably is removably mountable on the bottle 20 with the container 1 sitting on the neck 21 of the bottle 20 in the narrowed region where the neck 21 projects vertically from the wider bottle body 22. The transition area between the wider bottle body 22 and narrower neck 21 may progressively or abruptly narrow to generally define a bottle shoulder that can have a variety of shapes.

Generally as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2D, the garnish container 1 comprises a removable top lid or closure 2 and a bottom base 3 that opens upwardly. The container 1 is hollow and is formed as a hollow but openable annular ring when assembled so as to slide onto the bottle 20. The top lid 2 is removably attached to the bottom base 3 to form the hollow garnish container 1 and allow access to the contents thereof which may be a drink garnish G such as salt or other dry particulate. The components of the container 1 can be molded from polymeric materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and copolymers. The invention can be made through injection molding.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4D, the top lid or closure 2 includes a top wall portion 13, and an annular, outer skirt portion 8 depending from the top wall portion 13 at the outer periphery thereof. The outer skirt portion 8 has a radially-inward facing, interior surface which defines thread grooving 4 or other engagement formations. The top wall portion 13 also defines a central opening 13A which is bounded by an annular, inner skirt portion 9 which depends downwardly from the top wall portion 13 and is located radially inwardly of the outer skirt portion 8. The interior surface of the annular skirt portion 9 of closure 2 faces radially outwardly towards the outer skirt portion 8 and has thread grooving 5 or other engagement formations. The inner skirt portion 9 preferably depends or extends downwardly a smaller distance than the outer skirt portion 8 as seen in FIG. 4C.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, the bottom base or container body 3 includes an exterior body wall 11 which defines the outer periphery of the bottom base 3 and opens both upwardly and downwardly. The interior of the body wall 11 is separated by a shaped bottom wall portion 14 which extends radially inwardly from the interior of the body wall 11 and terminates at a wall edge 14A that defines a central body opening 14B which is configured to align with the opening 13A in the top lid 2. The body wall 11 defines an annular, lower skirt portion 11A depending downwardly from the bottom wall portion 14 and an upwardly projecting, upper wall portion 11B. The upper wall portion 11B extends upwardly and defines an exterior annular skirt portion 10 of bottom body 3 at the terminal edge thereof. The outer skirt portion 10 is formed with a thread grooving 6 or other engagement formation that is complementary to and matingly engages with the outer thread portion 4 formed on the top lid 2.

As noted above, the bottom wall portion 14 extends inwardly and terminates at a bottom wall edge 14A. The wall edge 14A is formed with an interior annular skirt portion 12 that projects upwardly a small distance. The interior annular skirt portion 12 of bottom base 3 has a thread grooving 7 or other engagement formation which faces inwardly and is complementary to and matingly engages with the inner thread grooving 5 formed in the top lid 2.

Preferably, the top lid or closure 2 is configured for threaded fitment to the associated bottom base 3. The internal thread portion 4 of top lid 2 will lock with the exterior thread portion 6 of the base closure 3 to close and seal the outer periphery of the container 1. The interior thread portion 5 of top lid 2 will lock with the external thread portion 7 of base closure 3 to close and seal the inner periphery of the container 1. In this manner, the container 1 is formed with a hollow interior or storage compartment 1A having an annular shape as generally seen in FIGS. 3A and 3C. When the top lid 2 and bottom base 3 are locked together, preferably by screwing the top lid 2 to the bottom base 3, the storage compartment provides a sealed storage area which stores the garnish such as salt and the like. Preferably, the locking or assembly of the top lid 2 to the base 3 can be accomplished by a single locking motion, such as screwing these components together, wherein the inner and outer peripheries of the tope lid 2 and base 3 are simultaneously joined in mating engagement according to the above description. During use, the top lid 2 can be simply unlocked or unscrewed from the bottom base 3 to allow access to the storage compartment 1A and allow the rim of a glass to be pressed into the salt for salting the glass rim.

When the container 1 is assembled, a central bore 1B (FIG. 2A) is formed therethrough as defined by the aligned openings 13A and 14B respectively formed in the top lid 2 and bottom body 3. This bore 1B is preferably dimensioned to fit over a wide variety of bottles 20 and the respective necks 21 thereof. For example, referring to FIG. 2C, the top lid 2 preferably has a vertical length of 8 mm, and the bottom base 3 has a vertical length of 27 mm, giving the container 1 a total vertical length of 35 mm. These dimensions may vary depending upon the desired use such as different sizes and shapes of bottles or mixer containers 20, and the volume of salt or other garnish that is desired to be stored therein. Based upon these preferred dimensions, FIG. 4C shows the top wall 13 of top lid 2 having a width of 96.1 mm. FIG. 3C shows the bottom wall 14 of container 3 having a width of 91.3 mm. The thickness of container 1 can be seen in FIG. 3C, notated by dimension 15, with an overall thickness of the plastic of 1.2 mm. The total diameter of the top lid 2 can be seen in FIGS. 2D and 3C with dimension 16 having a diameter of 98.1 mm. The inside of the top wall portion 13 has diameter of 96.1 mm as seen in FIG. 2D. The bore 1B where the top lid 2 will fit over the neck 21 of the bottle 20 is indicated by dimension 17 (FIG. 2D) as having a diameter of 38.4 mm. From FIG. 3C, it can be seen that the bottom base 3 will fit over the neck 21 of the bottle 20 due to the dimension 18 of the hole 14B which has a diameter of 38.5 mm. From FIG. 4C, the threading of 4 extends over a vertical distance indicated by dimension 19 with a thickness of 1 mm. The threading 5 extends over a vertical distance of 8 mm as indicated by dimension 20 in FIG. 4C.

To facilitate use, the bottom wall 14 preferably is inclined to define a frusto-conical shape as seen in FIGS. 3A-3C. This shape is defined by an annular, flat shoulder 22 which projects radially inwardly from the interior surface of the body wall 11 and an inclined wall 23 which projects upwardly, inwardly from the shoulder 22. The shoulder 22 and inclined wall 23 define an upper wall surface 24 and lower wall surface 25 of the bottom wall 14.

The upper wall surface 24 therefore is tapered to define an annular pocket at the shoulder 22 that continually collects the salt or other garnish in the area of the shoulder 22, even as the salt is removed or depleted during salting of multiple drink glasses. This ensures that the stock of garnish collects in the area of the shoulder 22 which is about the size of a normal diameter drink glass. If the salt is maintained near its maximum level, even smaller diameter drink glasses may be salted since the salt reservoir will extend radially from near the inner skirt portion 12 toward the outer skirt portion 10. This radial distance can accommodate a variety of glass diameters. As the garnish is depleted, the salt still collects in the area of the wall shoulder 22 described above due to the taper of the upper wall surface 24.

Preferably, the lower wall surface 25 also is inclined to define a taper similar to the upper wall surface 24 although it is possible to make these wall surfaces 24 and 25 dissimilar. The taper of the lower wall surface 25 tapers inwardly upwardly and is configured to sit on the bottle shoulder that is generally formed in the transition area where the wider bottle body 22 transitions or narrows to the bottle neck 21. The taper of the lower wall surface 25 ensures that the container 21 tends to center the garnish container 1 on the bottle 20 and provide a secure feeling engagement that limits the radial or sideward movement of the container 1. Therefore, if the bottle 20 is relatively narrow, the taper of the lower wall surface 25 readily fits onto the bottle shoulder. If the bottle 20 is wider, the flat wall shoulder 22 may itself sit on the bottle shoulder. This helps to facilitate storing of the inventive container 1 on the bottle 20 during normal use in a beverage serving station, and simultaneous access to both the container 1 and the bottle 20 when needed.

During use, the container 1 can be readily removed from the bottle 20 and the top lid 2 removed from the base 3 so that the glass can be salted or garnished. After pressing of the glass into the interior of the base 3, the glass can be filled with the remaining drink ingredients. The lid 2 can then be locked back into place or assembled on the base 3, and the assembled container 1 placed back onto the bottle neck 21 for storage. Notably, the beverage container 20 may include any suitable beverage for preparing a particular drink, and the garnish is chosen as complementary to the particular beverage in the beverage container 20. As described above, the garnish might be salt or flavored powder that is complementary to the particular drink mix such as a flavored powder that is complementary to a Bloody Mary mix or a salt that is complementary to a Margarita mix.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A container for a garnish comprising: an annular bottom base which is hollow to define a storage compartment for storing the garnish, said bottom base including one or more engagement formations; an annular top closure mountable to said bottom base to close said storage compartment and define an annular ring which permits storage of the garnish and is mountable on a beverage container; said top closure comprising a top wall portion, and an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion, said skirt portion including one or more internal engagement formations for respective engagement with one or more external engagement formations of said bottom base.
 2. A container in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bottom base comprises: a body wall and a bottom wall portion extending inwardly from said body wall to define said storage compartment, at least one of said body wall and said bottom wall portion including said one or more external engagement formations for respective engagement with said one or more internal engagement formations of said top closure.
 3. A container in accordance with claim 2, wherein said internal engagement formations are provided on an inner periphery and an outer periphery of said top closure, and said external engagement formations are provided on an inner periphery and an outer periphery of said bottom base, wherein said respective inner peripheries are locked together and said respective outer peripheries are locked together to enclose a garnish in said storage compartment.
 4. A container in accordance with claim 1, wherein said container is provided on a neck of a beverage container and a garnish is provided in said storage compartment, wherein said garnish is complementary to said beverage storable in said container.
 5. A container for a garnish complementary to a beverage comprising: an annular bottom base which is hollow to define an annular storage compartment for storing the garnish, said bottom base including a body wall defining an outer periphery and a bottom wall portion extending inwardly from said body wall to define an inner periphery which bounds a body opening sized to fit on a beverage container, said body wall and said bottom wall portion defining said storage compartment which opens upwardly between said inner periphery and said outer periphery for receiving garnish therein, at least one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery including respective first engagement formations; and an annular top closure mountable to said bottom base to close said storage compartment wherein said bottom base and said top closure when assembled define an annular ring which permits storage of the garnish, said top closure comprising an outer periphery and an inner periphery wherein said inner periphery defines a lid opening that aligns with said body opening to permit mounting on a beverage container, at least one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery including respective second engagement formations which are complementary to and engagable with said first engagement formations on said bottom base to removably lock said top closure to said bottom base for the storage of garnish in said storage compartment.
 6. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said top closure comprises a top wall portion extending between said inner periphery and said outer periphery, and an annular top outer skirt portion depending from said top wall portion to define said outer periphery, said top outer skirt portion including at least one said second engagement formation, and said body wall including at least one said first engagement for respective engagement with said second engagement formation on said top outer skirt portion to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective outer peripheries.
 7. A container in accordance with claim 6, wherein said top closure comprises an annular top inner skirt portion depending from said top wall portion to define said inner periphery thereof, and said bottom wall portion comprising an annular bottom inner skirt portion, which defines said inner periphery thereof, said top inner skirt portion also including at least one said second engagement formation, and said bottom inner skirt portion including at least one said first engagement formation for respective engagement with said second engagement formation on said top inner skirt portion to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective inner peripheries.
 8. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said top closure comprises an annular top inner skirt portion depending from said top wall portion to define said inner periphery thereof, and said bottom wall portion comprising an annular bottom inner skirt portion, which defines said inner periphery thereof, said top inner skirt portion also including at least one said second engagement formation, and said bottom inner skirt portion including at least one said first engagement for respective engagement with said second engagement formation on said top inner skirt portion to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective inner.
 9. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said top closure includes at least one said second engagement formation on said outer periphery thereof, which is engagable with at least one first engagement formation on said body wall to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective outer peripheries.
 10. A container in accordance with claim 9, wherein said top closure includes at least one said second engagement formation on said inner periphery thereof, which is engagable with at least one first engagement formation on said inner periphery of said bottom wall portion to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective inner peripheries.
 11. A container in accordance with claim 10, wherein said first and second engagement formations comprise complementary threads which simultaneously mate by movement of said top closure onto said bottom base to simultaneously join said inner and outer peripheries of said top closure and said bottom base together.
 12. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said top closure includes at least one said second engagement formation on said inner periphery thereof, which is engagable with at least one first engagement formation on said inner periphery of said bottom wall portion to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective inner peripheries.
 13. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said container is provided on a neck of a beverage container and a garnish is provided in said storage compartment, wherein said garnish is complementary to said beverage storable in said container.
 14. A container in accordance with claim 5, wherein said bottom wall portion tapers upwardly inwardly from said body wall to said inner perhiphery.
 15. A container for a garnish complementary to a beverage comprising: an annular bottom base which is hollow to define an annular storage compartment for storing the garnish, said bottom base including a body wall defining an outer periphery and a bottom wall portion which tapers upwardly inwardly from said body wall to define an inner periphery which bounds a body opening sized to fit on a beverage container, said body wall and said bottom wall portion defining said storage compartment which opens upwardly between said inner periphery and said outer periphery for receiving garnish therein, wherein said bottom wall portion defines a tapered compartment surface that continually collects the garnish toward said outer periphery as the garnish is depleted during use, at least one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery including respective first engagement formations; and an annular top closure mountable to said bottom base to close said storage compartment wherein said bottom base and said top closure when assembled define an annular ring which permits storage of the garnish, said top closure comprising an outer periphery and an inner periphery wherein said inner periphery defines a lid opening that aligns with said body opening to permit mounting on a beverage container, at least one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery including respective second engagement formations which are complementary to and engagable with said first engagement formations on said bottom base to removably lock said top closure to said bottom base for the storage of garnish in said storage compartment.
 16. A container in accordance with claim 15, wherein said top closure includes at least one said second engagement formation on each of said inner and outer peripheries thereof, and said bottom base includes at least one said second engagement formation on each of said inner and outer peripheries thereof, wherein said first and second engagement formations are engagable to join said top closure and said bottom base about said respective inner and outer peripheries.
 17. A container in accordance with claim 16, wherein said first and second engagement formations comprise complementary threads which simultaneously mate by movement of said top closure onto said bottom base to simultaneously join said inner and outer peripheries of said top closure and said bottom base together.
 18. A container in accordance with claim 17, wherein said container is provided on a neck of a beverage container and a garnish is provided in said storage compartment, wherein said garnish is complementary to said beverage storable in said container.
 19. A container in accordance with claim 15, wherein said bottom wall portion includes an outer wall surface facing downwardly for contact with a beverage container wherein said outer wall surface tapers inwardly upwardly from said body wall to facilitate centering of said container on a beverage container.
 20. A container in accordance with claim 19, wherein said body wall comprises a lower skirt portion which projects downwardly below said bottom wall portion for fitment over the beverage container. 